This Friday would have been Gerrie Castillo’s 66 ^th birthday. Instead, that day, people around the world will honor this missionary’s life. He died on April 11 from complications of COVID-19.

Gerrie, with his wife, Casiana (Anneth), are from the Philippines, where they served in church planting and pastoral ministry in Batangas. In 2000, they responded to the call of God to take the gospel to the less-reached by joining SEND and preparing to serve in Spain.

For almost two decades, Gerrie faithfully ministered to the Spanish people through church planting, evangelism, discipleship, and leadership.

In 2020, after facilitating a smooth turnover of the church they helped start, the Castillos returned to the Philippines where Gerrie began recruiting other Filipinos to serve in cross-cultural ministry.

Gerrie was quick to credit the Lord for the fruit he and Anneth saw in their ministry.

“God led us to move to Guadalajara during our second term of ministry,” he said last September. “By faith, we followed his lead and began to see God work in us and through us! A couple we were friends with expressed an interest in joining us in ministry in our new location. Together we would eat, pray, study God's Word, and go out to the streets and parks to share the gospel. Under God's leadership, Iglesia Centro Evangélico Cristo Vive Hoy was planted. God's mighty hand worked beyond what we could imagine. Glory to God!”

Throughout SEND, we are deeply thankful for Gerrie's many years of faithful service to his Lord and Savior, and expect that he has now heard, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

“We are very saddened by the loss of a dear brother, colleague and friend, and share the mourning of Anneth and the whole family” said SEND Spain Area Director Gerald Haupt. “We remember with gratitude the ministry of Gerrie with SEND Spain as missionary, church planter, team leader, interim director, and shepherd for many people.”

A service celebrating Gerrie’s life will be held this Friday, April 23, at 7 p.m. Philippine time on Facebook Live. Please be in prayer for Anneth and their children and grandchildren who will miss Gerrie dearly until they meet again.